Washington takes over playoff position

Washington moved into fourth in the College Football Playoff rankings, putting the four remaining unbeaten teams from the Power Five conferences at the top of the selection committee’s second top 25.

Alabama, Clemson and Michigan still hold the top three spots.

The committee’s first ranking of the season caused a bit of a stir because the unbeaten Huskies were behind Texas A&M last week. The Aggies then lost at Mississippi State to clear up the matter.

Ohio State is behind Washington, but the Buckeyes are still in fine shape. Ohio State plays Michigan on Nov. 26 in a game that could decide the Big Ten’s East division.

Louisville moved up a spot to sixth, followed by Wisconsin and Texas A&M.

If chaos is what you crave down the stretch of the college football season, these last few weeks are set to leave you feeling less than satisfied.

For sure, none of the teams in the latest top four are safe. Weird stuff happens. What mitigates the chances for real chaos is the firewall the top three teams, and to some extent Washington, has created. Alabama (vs. Mississippi State), Clemson (vs. Pitt) and Michigan (at Iowa) could all lose this weekend and still would be fine to reach the final four if they win out and become conference champions. Washington would likely be in more trouble than the rest with a loss to Southern California on Saturday, but far from out.

Tech coach backs defensive staff

ATLANTA — Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson still has confidence in his defensive coaches following one of the worst showings ever by the unit.

The Yellow Jackets gave up the second-most yards in school history in last week’s lopsided loss at No. 15 North Carolina. Georgia Tech’s defense has another tough challenge at No. 18 Virginia Tech on Saturday.

The search for improvement on defense has been a constant theme for Johnson this season. He said Tuesday a review of last week’s 48-20 loss to North Carolina solidified his belief that defensive coordinator Ted Roof’s scheme is sound and the players aren’t confused.

“I watch the tape repeatedly over and over and I watch it with the defensive coaches and I understand what’s happening,” Johnson said, adding he has faith in the defensive scheme. “As long as it’s sound as you’ve got a chance to execute it, that’s all you can ask of them.”

Georgia Tech has allowed 34 or more points in four of its last five games. The defense gave up 636 yards to North Carolina last week, second only to the school-record 667 allowed against Notre Dame in 1977.

The Yellow Jackets rank last among the nation’s 128 FBS teams in third-down defense. Opponents have been successful in converting 52 percent of third-down plays.

Johnson said defensive players have not lost faith or lack an understanding of the system.

“I don’t think we have those problems,” he said.

LSU hopes to avoid hangover after Bama

BATON ROUGE, La. — LSU quarterback Danny Etling is challenging the 19th-ranked Tigers to get some perspective and control over their emotions.

Any type of hangover from a deflating 10-0 loss to top-ranked Alabama this past weekend will damage interim coach Ed Orgeron’s chances of keeping his job long-term and put bowl eligibility at risk for LSU (5-3, 3-2 Southeastern Conference). The Tigers still need at least one more victory out of three remaining conference games to qualify for the postseason.

“It’s time to move on and get ready for Arkansas,” Etling said, referring to this Saturday night’s opponent. “What’s more fun than playing college football? There’s only so much time to put into it. I realize football is a game, but I love this game.

Only days ago, LSU was in position to take control of the SEC West Division. Now, for the fifth consecutive year, there will be no appearance in the Southeastern Conference championship game for LSU, which has dropped six straight to the Crimson Tide, starting with the January 2012 BCS national championship game.

4 Clemson juniors to enter NFL draft

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson, tailback Wayne Gallman and receivers Mike Williams and Artavis Scott are heading to the NFL after this season.

Coach Dabo Swinney said Tuesday the four juniors are graduating in December and have informed him this would be their last college season. The group will be honored at senior day on Saturday when the thirdranked Tigers (9-0, 6-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) host Pitt.

“All those guys are planning on moving on,” Swinney said. “Definitely want to honor them while we have an opportunity to do it. They’ve earned that.”

The group has been essential in Clemson’s rise into a national championship contender.

Watson became the first player in the Football Bowl Subdivision to throw for 4,000 yards and run for 1,000 yards last season.

Schiano studying Meyer

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Greg Schiano’s office is also set up to be a meeting room for Ohio State’s safeties. There are a couple of tables and eight chairs, and neatly set out at each spot is a binder with the week’s game plan.

Schiano is three quarters of the way through his first college football season as an assistant coach since 2000. As defensive coordinator and associate head coach of the Buckeyes, Schiano is working for — and learning from — his good friend Urban Meyer, helping the Buckeyes contend for the College Football Playoff and adding to a resume that should be good enough to get him another head-coaching gig.

Schiano performed one of the great makeovers in college football history during an 11-year stint as Rutgers head coach. But his two seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers produced only 11 victories and complaints from players that he was heavy-handed and uncompromising as the team flailed.

Illinois won’t play Northwestern in Chicago

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Illinois athletic director Josh Whitman said the Illini no longer will play Northwestern at Soldier Field in Chicago.

Illinois in recent years has played Northwestern every other season at the stadium. The Illini gave up on-campus games against the Wildcats to gain visibility in Chicago.

Northwestern’s home dates in the series are played at its campus in Evanston. The teams will meet there Nov. 26. Whitman said Tuesday the school prefers “rivalry games” be played in Champaign.

Illinois will instead play what he described as a “major nonconference opponent” at Soldier Field every four years.